Everton's Jordan Pickford keeping Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson at bay
Everton's Jordan Pickford keeping Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson at bay
Chelsea will be glad they never have come to Goodison Park again in the league after suffering more Mersey misery to slow their title charge.
Enzo Maresca’s rampant goalscoring machine ran into a brick wall as they were halted by Sean Dyche’s clean-sheet experts. Chelsea had won their eight previous games in all competitions, but they could not find a way past Everton, who now have seven shut-outs in the Premier League.
Chelsea must feel like helping tear Goodison down as Dyche once again threw a spanner in the well-oiled works of his opponents like only he can. They shouldn’t be surprised and they had lost five of their six Premier League games here and have now scored just two in their last eight visits.
Don’t forget this is a side that can’t stop scoring and they failed to find the back of the net in the Premier League for the first time since the opening day of the season against Manchester City. The stalemate robs them of depriving Liverpool of the chance of being the Christmas No 1 and it is a reminder that Maresca’s side have some work to do yet if they are to be champions.
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For Everton this will have felt like a win in front of new executive chairman Marc Watts of The Friedkin Group. The American group’s takeover secures Everton’s long-term future as they prepare to head to their new Bramley Moore Dock home this summer.
They still must get through this season and their PSR concerns means they cannot splash the cash next month in the January transfer window. But Dyche is more than playing his part and he continues to drag them clear of the relegation zone.
They have climbed to 15th and are now four points clear of the bottom three as their fine run continues. They were expected to struggle against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but Storm Darragh took care of their neighbours and they have gained goalless draws against the Gunners and now the Blues. City are next up on Boxing Day, when Ashley Young will be suspended for picking up five bookings, and the champions remain in freefall.
What does Sunday's result mean for Everton and Chelsea? Have your say in the comments section
Sean Dyche and Enzo Maresca watching on from the sideline
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Image:
PA)
Maresca claimed he was happy with the point and Everton had arguably the best chance when Robert Sanchez saved from Jack Harrison. But Nicolas Jackson hit the post when he could have scored and it’s hard to escape the feeling that this was two points dropped by Chelsea.
The swirling, soaking conditions didn’t help the quality of the game and any football played was by Chelsea. Everton had Jordan Pickford to thank for keeping Chelsea out and the England goalkeeper made a string of saves.
First he blocked Jackon’s shot with his leg before palming away another angled drive from the in-form Chelsea hitman. Jackson headed against the post from the resultant corner and Pickford did well to rush out and divert Malo Gusto’s follow-up behind.
Everton had their moments and Sanchez got down well to his right to push away Orel Mangala’s 20-yard effort. They should have scored when Iliman Ndiaye crossed to Harrison at the far post, but the winger’s shot was straight at Sanchez.
Despite enjoying 75 per cent possession, Chelsea were poor in the final third and their set-piece delivery was shocking. Everton might have snatched it near the end and Tosin Adarabioyo made a goal-saving block to deny Ndiaye.
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